As organizations across the Gulf region contend with lingering uncertainty, the need to support employee wellbeing has never been more urgent. 

In a new episode of Wellbeing at Work, a podcast by Workplace Options, a Telus Health company, Senior Account Manager Hadeel Al Far is joined by clinical psychologist Dana Bissar to discuss how leaders can support their teams in the wake of regional disruption—and how the EAP acts as a critical lifeline for employees in moments of profound uncertainty.

Read an excerpt of their conversation below:

Hadeel: To get started, I was wondering, Dana, if you could talk about the types of calls you’re receiving now that the immediate danger has passed and circumstances have begun to stabilize—and what this means for leaders as they try to support their staff?

Dana: Of course. So, during the height of the crisis, most of the concerns I was getting were very much about survival. People were in pure fight-or-flight mode, trying to make quick decisions about safety and asking themselves, “Where do I go?” “How do I protect my family?” “Can I get out?” 

In that state, it’s understandable that the nervous system is focused on action and not on reflection, right? So there’s no room to really process emotions and people are usually just trying to get through the next hour.

I’ll give you an example of a 25-year-old I worked with. She is the primary caregiver for her aging parents. When I spoke to her, she was torn between going back to work to support her family and prioritizing her safety. That tension by itself—that tension between being able to financially take care of her loved ones and her personal wellbeing and safety—was incredibly stressful for her, and you can see how at that stage, the main concern is usually safety. It’s usually about what will keep the person safe at that moment.

But when the crisis passes and things calm down, concerns are different because there’s no longer immediate danger.

And that’s when everything people pushed aside starts to surface. So despite feeling technically or physically safer, people can still feel anxious, experience low mood or energy. A lot of people also experience difficulty sleeping, concentrating, or just end up feeling constantly on edge. For example, people can still be noticing unfamiliar sounds or jumping at loud ones.

So the concerns today, they reflect the broader impact. People are exhausted, mentally and physically. And this decreases their bandwidth: they feel that they have less tolerance for pressure and for stress.

Another concern I’m seeing is people who have children or are financially providing for their loved ones or aging parents, as I mentioned in the example before. These are people trying to keep it together while also worrying about income, housing, and long-term plans they have for themselves and their families.

So even now if things are calmer, there’s still uncertainty. For example, a lot of clients I’m working with are asking themselves, “Could this happen again?” “Will the region be stable?” What does this mean for our future?” 

And that’s really a lot for people to experience, because usually these questions people do not have answers for. They cannot know what the future holds for them, for their job, or for the region. So this uncertainty can really fuel anxiety and disengagement at work.

And so, leaders today have a big role to play because the impact can show up in the workplace as disengagement, higher absenteeism or sick leave, drops in performance, or reduced morale. Employees might look physically present, but mentally they may feel checked out or might become more reactive—especially during times of stress. 

So I think leaders need to remember that even if the immediate danger has passed, it doesn’t mean employees bounce back automatically. These worries they’re carrying about their family, finances, or their futures—it’s shaping how they show up every single day to work. 

By ensuring a psychologically safe environment, leaders can soften the impact on employees. And here is where thoughtful action becomes critical…

Interested in hearing the rest of the conversation?

Tune in now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or on our podcasts page for insights on how to help your teams feel safe and supported in uncertain times.